Mental Health and Productivity Development: An Analytical Perspective from Hospital Construction

Amidst the rising prevalence of mental health issues, this study critically examines the potential contribution of hospital construction to overall productivity. Utilizing a one-dimensional linear regression model, the paper draws insights from provincial panel data spanning the period 1996 to 2021, sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Additionally, robustness tests are conducted. This analysis aims to uncover patterns of heterogeneity across varying temporal, regional, and industrial contexts. The key findings of the study are as follows: 1. A positive correlation exists between the number of medical and health institutions in each Chinese region and the respective gross domestic product of that region. 2. The impact of the number of medical and health institutions on China's gross domestic product follows a descending order: the western region, the north-eastern region, the central region, and the eastern region. 3. The number of medical and health institutions in each Chinese region had the most significant positive effect on the gross domestic product after the 2008 financial crisis. The second-highest positive effect was observed before China's accession to the WTO in 2001, with no significant impact detected after the WTO accession or before the financial crisis in 2008. 4. The study reveals that hospital construction has the most substantial impact on the development of the service sector, the second strongest impact on the industrial sector, and the least impact on the agricultural sector.